Your cart is currently empty.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Will CBD Get Me High?

The biggest question, and the most controversial when we’re talking about CBD is this: Will CBD get you high?

The answer to this question is actually simple! No, CBD will not get you high, not even a little bit. There is no way it can make you feel “high.” But what does that mean?

The explanation as to why CBD can’t get you high is a little more complicated. But it comes down to understanding how CBD and THC work in your body, and on your body’s endocannabinoid system (eCS).

THC, CBD and how they work with your body

CBD is non-psychoactive because it does not bind with the same eCS receptors as THC. It’s THC’s ability to bind with CB1 receptors that give it it’s famous psychoactive effects.

Your body’s endocannabinoid system, which we’ve discussed in more detail in this blog post, is made of three main parts: Your CB1 receptors (mainly in your brain) and CB2 receptors (mainly in your body), and your body’s naturally-produced endocannabinoids.

Phytocannabinoids, like those produced from cannabis (hemp) plants, can interact with your body’s CB1 and CB2 receptors in the same way your body’s endocannabinoids do, which means they can help supplement your body’s own healthy eCS functioning.

The Cannabis (Hemp) Plant

The cannabis plant belongs to the genus Cannabaceae, which is a big family of flowering plants and includes so much more than just it’s most famous member, cannabis. For example, this family also includes Humulus lupulus, or hops, which are famously used worldwide as a beer ingredient worldwide and has been for hundreds of years.

Cannabis itself is a dioecious plant, which means that there are both male and female plants and they rely on each other for pollination. Male plants, with their fibrous tissues and tall limbs, is where preferred hemp comes from. Throughout history, hemp has been used to make clothes, paper, rope, shoes—all kinds of things. Fun fact: both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were drafted on hemp paper!

Female plants, on the other hand, are shorter and stockier. This doesn’t make them good for fibrous purposes, like hemp, but they do have their own unique characteristics. It’s from the female plants where we get nutritious hemp seeds from. And it’s from her small resin glands, called trichomes, where THC synthesizes from. So when we hear the word “marijuana,” you should know this typically refers to the female cannabis plant.

THC (or Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol)

One of the most well-known chemicals found in cannabis, (the other being CBD) THC really is the culprit that gives cannabis its mixed reputation and uncertain future. But what exactly is it?

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the chemical in cannabis that gives you that “high” feeling. Feeling “high” sounds like kind of casual term, but in popular culture, this is the term we associate the most with the psychoactive effects of THC.

Like we talked about above, cannabis has both male and female plants. Females have trichomes, which are microscopic protrusions made up of a stalk and a head that look a little bit like tiny, clear mushrooms.

Trichomes appear on the surface of the female plant’s buds, leaves, and (less often) the stalk. THC synthesizes in the heads of these trichomes. When inhaled or consumed in high enough quantities, THC molecules bind directly to CB1 receptors in the brain, causing the well-known psychoactive effect.

THC goes right to the CB1 receptors, stimulating parts of the brain that respond to pleasure and releases our happy-brain chemical called dopamine. All said and done, you end up experiencing the infamous “high.”

CBD

Unlike THC, most CBD comes from the male cannabis plants, the ones that make hemp. This means that the potent psychoactive effects of THC are not going to happen by consuming CBD. But it gets even better!

So what does this mean? CBD will not get you high. Not even a little bit.

CBD does not bind to cannabinoid receptors the same way as THC. It acts more on CB2 receptors, which are much more dispersed throughout the body than CB1 receptors which are located primarily in the brain. And instead of attaching directly onto the receptor, CBD impacts them indirectly. It does this by activating other receptors and signals throughout the body, like TRPV1 receptors, which are involved with inflammation and pain regulation.

Oh, and CBD contains beta-caryophyllene, an endocannabinoid system stimulating terpene that is known as a potent anti-inflammatory agent.

And while CBD is working hard in your body by influencing your endocannabinoid system, what do you get to do? Sit back and relax! CBD works to support your eCS system to help relax muscles, reduce inflammation, ease feelings of stress and anxiety, and so much more! It is developing quite a reputation for its ability to assist in relieving both short term and chronic pain, as well as reducing symptoms associated with anxiety and depression. It does all this with absolutely no psychoactive side-effects.

When we’re talking about CBD, there are three different kinds: Broad-spectrum, full-spectrum, and isolated. These terms refer to what other chemical constituents are included in your CBD product.

The most common form of CBD is actually an isolate (like fractionated coconut oil) because it has been isolated from the plant compound using a process called chromatography and contains only cannabidiol, without any of the other chemical constituents of the cannabis plant. This assures that there can’t be any psychoactive effects from THC.

Full-spectrum CBD contains trace amounts of THC. The legal limit for these types of products is less than 0.3% and it still is a small enough amount that it won’t have a psychoactive effect at all. We really mean it!

Broad-spectrum CBD starts as full-spectrum CBD and when the THC is removed, it becomes broad-spectrum. This means that all the other wonderful and useful chemical constituents that make up the cannabis plant are still intact, but there’s no chance of any psychoactive effects at all. These other constituents include many potent terpene alcohols, especially linalool. Linalool is familiar to anyone in the essential oil industry as the piece that gives some of our favorite oils (like Lavender) their therapeutic properties.

To learn more about CBD, check out some of our other great resources.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or under a doctors care, please consult with a physician or qualified professional before using this product.

This is probably not the brightest question but, I want to be 100% clear because my employer drug tests. CBD can be legally used. THC is not legal in my state. Plant therapy’s hemp products are 100% THC free, correct? If so, this means their is a 0% chance of THC showing up on my drug screen, from this companies products. However, when/if CBD shows up, it is okay?

Hi Hannah! You’re correct, currently, it’s illegal to simply test for phytocannabinoids (CBD – from plants) in a drug screening. Companies are required to test for THC, and because our Plant Therapy CBD has 0.0% THC, there is absolutely no chance of it ever showing up on a drug test!

I’m incredibly interested in using CBD oil, but have hesitated to do so yet for two reasons. The first is that I struggled to find a reputable company that offers this product. Now that Plant Therapy does, that problem is solved – yay! My other hesitation is how the use of CBD oil will affect an employer drug test. I’ve done some research on this, and the answers seem to be conflicting. Obviously without that certainty, it’s not worth the risk to my job. Has Plant Therapy done any research on this?

There are two types of drug tests. One looks for cannabinoids and this test is no longer legal. That said, some companies may not have updated their testing requirements to meet this new legal standard. Most workplace drug screens and tests target delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and do not target or detect the presence of cannabidiol (CBD) or other legal natural hemp based constituents. We recommend checking with your employer to learn which type of drug test they perform.

You can find this and answers to many other questions about our CO2 Hemp Extract (CBD) here on our FAQ.

SUBSCRIBE TO SAVE AND LEARN

Categories

Want all the Oily News First?

All the latest product launches & limited text only offers, straight to your email or phone.

By subscribing to Plant Therapy, you consent to receive autodialed messages to the number used at opt-in. Message frequency will vary. Consent is not a condition of the purchase of goods or services. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to cancel. Reply HELP for help. T&CsPRIVACY POLICY